The bill, Advancing America's Priorities Act, was blocked by a 50-42 vote, short of the 60 votes need to overcome a filibuster. It was created in an effort to draw attention to Sen. Tom Coburn, a stalwart crusader for tightening the pursestrings of gove

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Act, named for the actor who was made famous by his portrayal of superman and later became a champion of the disabled, along with his late wife (pictured at right), is part of a broad package created by Democrats which lumps together 36 bills.

It would have allocated $25 million for research on spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation and measures to improve the quality of life for paralyzed Americans. The effort is backed by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, which claims 19,000 members. Some 200,000 Americans suffer spinal cord-related injuries.

“We have a war with many veterans who suffer some from spinal cord injuries or paralysis,” said Lee Page, associate advocacy director for Paralyzed Veterans for America told the Navy Times Tuesday.

The overall bill, dubbed the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, was blocked by a 50-42 vote, short of the 60 votes need to overcome a filibuster. It was created in an effort to draw attention to Sen. Tom Coburn, a stalwart crusader for tightening the pursestrings of government.

The bill also included funding for victims of torture, disability, and disease.

The House passed the Reeve bill in 2007, but the Senate has never followed suit.

The Democrats' package bundled numerous uncontroversial proposals in an attempt to overcome procedural hurdles Coburn has imposed. Dr. Coburn is famous for his efforts to moonlight as a physician while serving in Congress, and was blocked by the Senate when he attempted to continue delivering babies while in office. He's also known for his annual screening of films warning congressional staffers of venereal disease.

Republicans blasted the bill as an attempt to bait them and distract from measures to deal with high gas prices.

"They're using every trick to get us away from dealing with high gas prices," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Wednesday July 30, 2008, 10:25 amArmy Times Alarm: McCain Suggests Rationing Veterans' Health Care
Paul Sullivan, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, said McCain "appears to want to significantly narrow the number of veterans who can use VA, and that would alarm many veterans." Sullivan said veterans "should be very concerned by any effort

Friday August 1, 2008, 11:22 am
Tom Coburn and John McCain should both be thrown out of office. McCain, shame on you for making such a big deal out of being a POW and then being AGAINST veterans rights! So, I guess that means we can totally trust you to be president. And, shame on you House and Senate for letting one bad apple spoil you! Show you have some morals and vote against the dummies! Evidently, all of you need to be voted out, and new people voted in so some progress can be made. I'm not young, but to hell with all these ancient guys. Better to risk inexperience.....thanks,Blue.

14. McCain recently claimed that he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”

15. McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions, concluding, on multiple occasions, that a Korea-like presence is both a good and a bad idea.

16. McCain was against additional U.S. forces in Afghanistan before he was for it.

17. McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”

18. McCain has repeatedly said it’s a dangerous mistake to tell the “enemy” when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.

19. McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.

20. McCain staunchly opposed Obama’s Iraq withdrawal timetable, and even blasted Mitt Romney for having referenced the word during the GOP primaries. In July, after Iraqi officials endorsed Obama’s policy, McCain said a 16-month calendar sounds like “a pretty good timetable.”

Friday August 1, 2008, 3:33 pm
Veterans deserve so much better from us and the government that sends them to fight their wars! How could that bill not pass? Do politicians think that the people this would help are not worthy of their support? Oh, that's right, they probably don't contribute to their funds like the lobbyists do. I really love that line Nicolas Cage said in National Treasure: Of all the ideas that became the United States, there's a line here that's at the heart of all the others. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and provide new Guards for their future security." which, of course, means: "If there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action."

Friday August 1, 2008, 5:21 pm
Being a disabeld Vietnam Vet, I think the actions of our governement, especially the republicans is disgraceful. It makes me sick, especially when John McCain, I guy I once honored is just as bad as the rest of them. The only real problem is that most republicans will NOT even try to look at the truth, but only look at the propaganda put out by the Bush gang himself. I doubt we will ever see this on Fox or other news media.
It's all controled by the right wing.

Friday August 1, 2008, 6:59 pm
It's true, Nick, that Democrats and RepubliCON$ are "wired differently" ... a study was done and RepubliiCON$ have trouble admitting they're wrong, they find it difficult, if not impossible, to apologize when they are wrong and they will stubbornly hold onto their belief system even when facts proving otherwise are staring them in the face.

Saturday August 2, 2008, 6:09 am
I honestly would hope that more American's who think its patriotic to send their loved ones off to war or to go to war themselves would take a hard look at how this administration and the Republican's and even some Democrats view them as mindless idiots they can manilulate to do their dirty work and later discard them like garbage with no conscience even after they risked their lives for what our President falsely calls a just war against terrorist .
Sad that these good people are treated like this by their own government.